A Snake Charmer

The snake charmer belongs to the wandering class of people. He earns his bread by his shows and feats which we cannot do. Generally, he goes from town to town and does not stay at one place for a long time. He puts on a peculiar dress. Sometimes we can see large rings on his ears and steel bangles on his wrist.

He carries two baskets with him hanging on the ends of a long bamboo. He has a special type of flute with him. When he enters a town he goes on playing upon his flute. When the children hear the music, they follow him to see the snakes. So, they influence their mothers to stop him and show his program. He plays upon his flute for some time and then opens the basket. There are a number of snakes coiling together. He touches one of the snakes on the head and the snake at once raises its hood. It begins to blow from side to side as the flute moves this way or that way. Normally, the snake charmer shows his snakes one by one. Sometimes he puts a snake round his neck, and then he goes from man to man begging for some amount of money. He talks to snakes and they seem to understand his hints. He always keeps some herbs with him which snake fears and which makes it gentle. He also knows the art of catching snakes. He takes out the poisonous teeth of the snake. The life of a snake-charmer is full of adventure. His life is always in danger. When a snake charmer fails to catch the snake at the right time, the snake bites him and he dies. Thus the snake-charmer deserves our sympathy.